These healthcare reforms and regulatory measures in the US and Europe have gained significant urge for improved quality, operational efficiency, and cost reduction by adopting best practices and meaningful use of health information.
Healthcare organizations, hospitals and medical consumable and pharmacy suppliers are focusing on enhanced operational efficiency, automating their entire supply chain and maximized savings with affordable cloud-based EDI and regulatory complaint e-commerce platforms.
The major focus areas for healthcare digital commerce are:
- Improved operational efficiency
- Reduction in costs
- Improved accuracy
- Greater responsiveness – reliability, availability, and portability of health information
- Standardization of clinical and insurance reimbursement process
- Standardization of data communication (EDI) across healthcare value chain
- Patient health information security and confidentiality
Seamless integration between supply chain, ERP and clinical systems
Healthcare service providers and medical suppliers have merged together with the right technology partner and brought in the seamless integration of entire supply chain procurement and delivery which is fully integrated with any ERP, EMR or EHR. Previously EHR, EMR, and HIS were not linked with supply chain particularly for pharmacy and medical devices. This initiative has not only improved operational efficiency but also improved customer experience.
Telemedicine
Additionally patient can take physician consultation remotely via telemedicine solution. Pharma manufacturers and medical device suppliers are also providing integrated solutions enabling patients to share health data with physician EMR.
One stop shop for cash and insurance purchases
We at e-Zest have already implemented an e-Commerce portal for one of enterprise client selling the medical device. Our solution encompasses both traditional online payments for uninsured customers and also offers complete reimbursement cycle for insured customers.
Incorporating cashless pay (insurance reimbursement) in e-commerce portals resulted in increased sales volume. The patient can purchase drugs and pharmacy and health monitoring devices from the same marketplace with both options of cash and cashless pay. If covered under the insurance plan, they don’t need to depend on traditional time-consuming hospital drove health claim reimbursement processes.
Health monitoring devices
Use of home health monitoring and diagnostic devices such as BP monitor, and pulse oximeters etc. are increasing day by day as they are very easy to use and helpful in personal healthcare. These devices have introduced new methods of patient care monitoring. Patient health data collected by these devices can be shared with physician EMR via a mobile app. These devices are easily available over e-commerce portals. Also, these portals provide excellent shipment and delivery facility along with 24x7 customer support.
Pharmacy e-Store
Apart from prescription drugs, pharmaceutical companies find it relatively easy to sale their non-prescription drugs and OTC products through digital commerce portals. It is an easy and cost-effective option especially for both prescription and non-prescription drugs, nutritional and beauty products.
Security, confidentiality and regulatory compliance
Safety, security, and confidentiality of patient personal and clinical information are utmost important. All digital commerce platforms selling the pharmacy, medical devices through GDPR, HIPAA, and FDA compliant practices ensuring patient/customer safety and security. It is mandatory to ensure patient personal and diagnostic information safe, secure and confidential as per regulatory requirements directed by government agencies and regulatory bodies. There are strict laws and penalty clause from governments hence all healthcare digital commerce companies emphasizing on data security, confidentiality, and reliability.
Digital commerce definitely provides a great value to healthcare companies as they provide the new avenue to reach out to customers and at the same time impacting the user experience positively.
